§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action her Department is taking to monitor the number of classes with over 30 pupils in Key Stage 1 and to deal with such cases. [15009]
§ Mr. TimmsInfant class size counts currently take place in January, as part of the Annual Schools Census, and September. From this September local education authorities and schools have been responsible for ensuring that infant classes for five, six, and seven-year-olds comply with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requirement to contain 30 or fewer children except in certain limited circumstances.
In January 1998, 29 per cent. of all infants were in classes of 31 or more. Figures published this morning show that in September 2001 after taking out the permitted exceptions allowed by law there are now less than 0.1 per cent. of the 63,000 infant classes that have extra children.